From Nene’s stern statements to George Karl’s subtle suggestions, it was understood the Nuggets desperately needed another big man.

Help is on the way from Oklahoma City. On Wednesday, Denver acquired 7-foot reserve center Johan Petro and the Thunder’s 2009 second-round pick for reserve guard Chucky Atkins, Denver’s first-round pick in 2009 and cash considerations. The 22-year-old Frenchman averages 4.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. He led the Thunder in the preseason with 8.0 rebounds per game.

“You have four to five teams out West where there’s a 10-15 minute window you want to play a (reserve) big guy,” Karl said. “You’ve got Portland who plays big, Lakers who play big, Shaquille (O’Neal of Phoenix) is always a factor. . . . (Reserve) Chris Andersen is good, but he’s a skinny big.”

Andersen was Denver’s only backup big man, and starters Nene and Kenyon Martin have battled injuries in the past. Karl said Petro should be available for Friday’s game.

Denver slipped under the NBA luxury tax ($71.15 million) with Monday’s trade of Cheikh Samb, and this trade helps — Atkins’ salary is $3.2 million and Petro’s is $1.9 million. The Thunder utilized a trade exception to balance it out.

“I think the window of opportunity to make (another) trade that will impact our team is now better by being under the tax,” Karl said.

Atkins, who played just 14 games this season, signed with Denver during the summer of 2007 but battled injuries this season and last, never cracking Karl’s rotation.

“I think that I deserve to play some, and obviously if they’re making a trade for me, then they plan on using me,” Atkins said Wednesday afternoon. “The thing that kind of hurts was that I never got an opportunity. Injuries can happen to anybody, and Anthony Carter stepped in and did what he was supposed to do to keep this team afloat. No hard feelings. That’s just the name of the game.”

Welcome back.

The only thing that could make Sonny Weems happier than his Arkansas Razorbacks upsetting No. 7 Texas on Tuesday night was coming back to the Nuggets.

On Wednesday, Weems, a rookie swingman, did just that. He was recalled to the big club after 10 games with the Colorado 14ers of the NBA Development League. He averaged 18 points and 4.8 rebounds with the 14ers.

“I’m very happy to be back,” Weems said.

Weems joined the Nuggets for their shootaround on Wednesday morning, and said the experience in the D-League was good, in particular to sharpen his conditioning. A groin strain kept Weems out of the Nuggets’ preseason and the first 14 games of the season.

How long he’s back with the Nuggets remains to be seen.

“I guess it’s just up to me,” Weems said. “I’m planning on being here for the rest of the year.”

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